Brookfield Zoo goes ‘Boo’ for spooky weekend events

A rhino stabs a pumpkin at a past Boo! at the Zoo event at Brookfield Zoo.

By SUBURBAN LIFE MEDIA

BROOKFIELD – Guests of all ages are invited to attend a howlin’ good time at the Brookfield Zoo’s annual Boo! at the Zoo events.

The Halloween celebration begins this weekend and continues on Oct. 26 and 27.

Attendees can navigate their way through a corn maze, sit in on special Zoo Chats, take a haunted hayride, carve pumpkins and participate in a costume parade and contest.

This Saturday and Sunday kick off the festivities beginning at 11 a.m. and going until 4 p.m. The events will continue the following weekend at the same times.

Zoo Chats

No event at the zoo would be complete without some creepy crawly critters. Staff at the zoo will be sharing interesting facts about animals during the special zoo chats through the weekend. Guests can head to Australia House at 11:30 a.m. to learn about fruit bats, head to The Swamp at 12:30 p.m. to learn about spiders and stop by the Hamill Family Play Zoo for an owl Zoo Chat at 1 p.m.

Pumpkins for all ... even lions

Zoo keepers will also be giving tasty and nutritious pumpkins to some of the animals at 11 a.m. each day, so they can share in the Halloween fun too. The rhinos will get pumpkins Oct. 19, followed by the orangutans Oct. 20 and the bears on Oct. 26. Even the lions will get the special treat on Oct. 27.

The Pumpkin Smasher

On the West Mall, guests can cheer for the pumpkin or for the Pumpkin Smasher, who will be crushing pumpkins into hundreds of pieces every hour starting at 11 a.m. Professional pumpkin carver Steve Dahlke will also be creating masterpieces out of pumpkins, including a 1,000-pound Jack-o-lantern.

Many other haunted events will also be taking place. For a full list of events, see the zoo’s website at www.czs.org/events, or call 708-688-8000.

Admission to the zoo costs $15 for adults and $10.50 for children ages 3 to 11. Parking is $10.